Kris Humphries has been solid once again, but with Brook Lopez out, the Nets have lacked depth and offensive punch up front. Shelden Williams is a decent role player forced into a starting role.

D

With a depleted supporting cast, Deron Williams has been forced to carry a heavy load. Anthony Morrow and MarShon Brooks have each had a handful of good offensive performances, but have been pretty awful defensively.

C

Statistically, the Nets have been the worst defensive team of the last 20 years. They're slow-footed and compound that by over-helping and losing track of players who don't have the ball.

F

With a bevy of injuries, no bench has been shallower than the Nets'. Jordan Farmar, shooting 46 percent from 3-point range, has been the only bright spot on the second unit.

D

Avery Johnson hasn't had much to work with, and he deserves some credit for coaxing some points out of this squad. But when with this historically bad defense, the coach deserves some of the blame.

D

D

Summary

For the third straight season, as they go all-in on the quest for a star to lead them into Brooklyn, wins and losses have been nearly inconsequential for the Nets.

Two seasons ago, they cleared cap space for LeBron James, lost 70 games, and got Travis Outlaw. Last year, they went fishing for Carmelo Anthony, went 24-58, and landed Deron Williams. Now, instead of building around Williams, they're all-in on the effort to team him with Dwight Howard.

Waiting (and hoping) for the Orlando Magic to part ways with their star has kept the Nets from moving forward. They sacrificed chances at the offseason's best free agents in order to maintain the cap space to sign Howard in July. And any shot of competing for a playoff spot went out the window when Lopez broke a bone in his foot in the preseason.

Lopez's injury was just the tip of the iceberg. Only Shelden Williams has played every game for the Nets, and 13 different guys have started for them at some point.

All will be forgiven if the Nets do land Howard at the deadline or in free agency this summer. If they don't, they may lose Williams and take another step backward.